Two shot dead over leadership tussle in Edo

Two persons have been reportedly shot dead in connection with a protracted leadership crisis between two youth groups in Iguikpe Community, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, police said.

In a statement, spokesman for the Nigeria Police, Edo State Command, CSP Moses Joel gave the names of the casualties as Victor Ogierioba and Efe Agbaoghogho whose stomach was ripped-off by bullets during the fatal shooting.

He recalled that “on the 28th of February 2025 at about 1600hrs, the Command received a report that one Edobor Edwin, the former Okiaghele of Iguikpe Community Benin-City led thugs to the Community shooting sporadically, as a result, the incumbent youth Leader (Okiaghele) of the Community, Victor Ogierioba and one Efe Agbaoghogho sustained fatal gunshots injuries on the stomach and face respectively”.

CSP Yamu said, Police operatives attached to Iyekogba Division alongside that of Operation Rescue responded swiftly and arrested one Osato whose surname is not yet known and Edobor Edwin the Principal suspect who was involved in the attack.

He revealed that in the statement that police have restored normalcy to the area, while efforts is intensified to arrest other fleeing suspects of the attack.

The statement said the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Betty Isokpan Otimenyin has read the riot act against criminal elements in the State.

The police boss has also ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for diligent investigation.

CP Etimenyin urged the “the people of Edo State to avoid taking laws into their hands, as the Police will no longer tolerate further acts of lawlessness in the State.

The statement said the Commissioner also urged “members of the Community to remain calm and go about their business without fear”.

TheNewspad reports that bodies of the deceased have been deposited in a morgue for preservation, while the rural dwellers in Iguikpe are living in apprehension, while grieving family members are seeking refuge elsewhere.